Fizban

FIZBAN

Real Name: Paladine

Class: God

Occupation: God of good

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Krynn, Earth-TSR

First Appearance: (comics) Dragonlance #1 (December, 1988)

Powers: Paladine was an immortal god, and in his guise as avatar Fizban was a powerful wizard, and his spells included fireball casting and illusion.

History: (Dragonlance #11 (fb)) - In Ishtar the people turned their backs on the gods, causing disaster. The priestking demanded power from Paladine, and the god destroyed Ishtar in a flaming cataclysm for his hubris, as well as to restore the balance of all things. Paladine's avatar Fizban witnessed the destruction, and wept for he knew it was necessary.

(Dragonlance #1, 2) - Fizban the wizard was in the town of Andor when he saw a couple being dragged away by the Seekers for blaspheming against the new dark gods. their son Tip was ready to attack them, but Fizban pulled him back and shot a fireball at the Seekers. The Seekers turned on them, and they were forced to flee town. In the woods they met Riva Silvercrown, a Knight of Solamnia, and her companion Vandar Brightblade. They saved the duo from a Draconian, and when they learned that the duo opposed Lord Soth and his dragon army they joined them on a journey to Silvercrown keep. Lord Silvercrown still believed he could avoid war. Riva argued with him because he still refused to see her as a knight because she was a woman, and was angered that he preferred her alcoholic brother Marik. Fizban interrupted the awkward conversation by trying to remember a magic trick, and Marik asked him to show him some magic on the roof of the castle. He revealed himself as a Draconian, he'd killed the real Marik, and was acting as a spy, but he sensed Fizban had powerful magic even though he played a doddering fool. Vandar suspected something was up, and the Draconian tossed him a sword, knowing the cleric had foresworn weapons. He stood by helplessly as the Draconian threw Fizban down a shaft. Tip and Riva heard the commotion, and were both in a rage. Riva demanded single combat against the Draconian and slew him. the Draconian then shapeshifted into her own likeness.

(Dragonlance #3, 4) - Riva and Vandar found themselves in the same dream, a nightmare sent to them by Lord Soth. Takhisis demanded to know where "the one" was, knowing they'd been in contact with him. Takhisis turned into her dragon form, but Riva stabbed her with the Dragonlance, causing the dream to end. Riva and Vandar wondered who "the one" was and Fizban appeared, alive and well, and revealed that he was who Takhisis was after. Fizban immediately forgot what he was talking about, and pointed to the advancing dragon armies. Riva said she didn't have time for him to recover his memory, or for Vandar to decide he was willing to pick up a sword. Lord Silvercrown told his knights they were about to enter final battle, and urged them to die with honor, but Riva appeared to rally them and proclaim that they could win the battle yet. Vandar struggled with his faith, and Fizban assured him that the gods never intended a monk to stand by while his friends died, and reminded him that the rules of his order were written by men, not gods. Riva turned the tide of battle by climbing a parapet, leaping, and fatally stabbing the red dragon. The Dragon Highlord challenged her to combat, and soon disarmed and wounded her. Vandar appeared, taking up the sword, and using the Medallion of Majere to conjure an exoskeleton. He fended off the Highlord until Fizban and Tip investigated, and she took Tip hostage. The distracted Vandar was fatally wounded by the Highlord's blue dragon. The Highlord saw that the medallion was burned into his chest, and was pleased it could no longer be used against her Dark Queen, so she stole the Dragonlance and flew off on her dragon. Riva wept for her friend, but Fizban said his brightness would not be forgotten by the world, and he produced the Dragonlance, revealing that he'd let the Highlord take an imitation, and he was the one who left the Dragonlance in Vandar's monastery. Before he died Vandar recognized Fizban as an avatar of Paladine, the god of good.

(Dragonlance #22) - Two years after the War of the Lance the Knights of Solamnia sent Riva Silvercrown to sail by herself to the continent of Taladas. She was caught in a nasty storm, and wondered if the Knights had sent her to her death. Fizban, who Riva recognized as the great Paladine, appeared on her boat, and told her she was on a quest to learn obedience. Fizban wanted her to bring her love of justice and mercy to Taladas, because those virtues were unknown there. They reaches Taladas, but the storm threatened to dash Riva’s boat against a jagged cliff, and Fizban teleported her safely inland.

Comments: Created by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman.

Fizban was a character from TSR's AD&D role-playing game adapted to DC Comics.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paladine.